5 was good but required "Steam" and I had many issues with steam that really bothered me. Nothing major but why oh why require such internet connection in order to play the game?

Well, Tom, as others have written, Firaxis apparently chose Steam for several reasons:1. software delivery (no DVDs to burn and package)2. updates (users don't have to go the web site to get them, they are ported automatically)3. Multi-player gaming4. Piracy reduction

So if you are unfortunate enough to not have any Internet access, you are just SOL for Civ V, I reckon.

Well, you can still play it; but---you did indicate you do not have it yet correct---get the the "game of the year" version because it already has the Gods & Kings thingy in it (and I think some of the additions to the vanilla game were worth it, plus they've probably cleared up some of the initial bugs....if you don't like to use the Steam system, or you do not have reliable internet access. (Like if you needed to get on Steam for it like wayyyy once in a while you know?)

There might be a boxed version that includes G&K *and* BNW (Brave New World) which in my opinion is also worth it. I thought religion, as it was in Civ IV, got kinda dumb; but they make it an interesting and integral part of the game, if you so choose, in G&K and BNW expansions. Just mentioning that off-hand. There is also I think the "manual" (a little more extensive and instructive than the regular "civilopedia" that I think comes on the boxed editions DVDs (if you choose to get via box not Steam download). I can check on amazon for you to see what they've got so far.

So I would not say you're necessarily "SOL" if you have unreliable net access, because if you install it all from the boxed version there's nothing else you would need to download (except the occasional fix to a bug or something...seems that bugs can also come from updates in Windows or Mac Operating Systems, right? that's at least been my experience with my iPad LOL!!!!)

But dude, I really cannot fathom why the detractors of Civ V are....well, detractors of Civ V!!! It's more addictive than previous versions and is quite frankly kick-a$s IMHO. Comparing the addictiveness of Civ IV versus that of Civ V; is to compare mere yummy sugar treats to Crystal Meth.

Did you plan to get it and use it without Steam, I take it? Or your internet is slow or unreliable or something? (Nothing embarrassing about that!)

BTW, hardware requirements. I'm on my laptop right now and the box is in the basement and I do not feel like getting it at the moment (sorry need a nap LOL). But I will look them up for you. They're not really that steep, the recommended requirements. I cannot imagine that if you have a few games on your computer already that you do not already have what you need. again, will check after I wake up.

SLOTerp: I will definitely email you those screen shots. I have two "before" capturing the Maya capital. But I may have accidentally erased the "after" shot. But yeah, that would be so cool if you could post them here....though no one has invented the nuclear bomb yet.... But I have built up a decent empire and would love to show people. Thanks SLOTerp!!!!!!! much appreciated buddy!

Show of "hands": how many of you own the game so far? (Hacker raises his) And those of you who do, do you own either G&K or BNW packs?

My problem with Steam...It took almost a solid day to download, my internet speed was later improved but it did take i think 19 hours to download, that computer is now dead and I don't know how to get it onto a new one (that is not yet purchased so it doesn't much matter). I purposely went to the store and paid more so I would have a copy of the game and not need to download it, I open the full size box only to find instructions on how to download from Steam!?

I must have internet access to play so when it is down, the game is down, if it's slow, the game is down. The times I wanted to play were times when it was down and I could not watch netflix but that is not possible. I wanted to bring it with me on a trip one time but again, no internet meant no game! (and it would have been sweet in that situation I was in)

I have also had all sorts of issues with Steam trying to do crazy things, almost like a virus the way it kept popping up. It didn't harm anything (so no virus) but it would keep asking for this and that and was annoying to say the least.

Regarding CIV V vs IVfive is MUCH better, I did not really care for four at all. Some liked the religion aspect, I never really "got" it I guess. It just detracted from a good game. Four also seemed a bit odd and was never embraced by myself. But yes, five was a pretty damned good game and I would also recommend it as well. But CIV III was absolutely awful, it was just plain bad! CIV II, now that one was the gold standard in my book! Aside from crappy graphics, the game was a real nice balance of strategy and simplicity. My only beef with five (aside from Steam that is) is five is maybe a bit TOO complicated to fully grasp? But that negative for me can absolutely be a positive for others, they may appreciate all the extra options and a learning curve is no problem for them.

Also, I assume buying it via the box is mostly the "rights" to the game? I am not sure. But it's nice to have the chart and stuff that comes with it isn't it?

I emailed SLOTerp one of the screen shots I thought was nifty. Shows a bunch of my cities.

BNW reinstated religion. But it did it SMART. It's not superfluous like in Civ IV. There are actual benefits to each religion (heck, I can rename Protestantism "Hacker-Worship" if I wanted to). And you get to choose several "beliefs" that affect your civilization in different positive ways.

Do you like how the political aspect has been made better, too? "Adopt Policy" and so forth? (As opposed to the rather simplistic rubric in Civ IV and the really simplistic one in Civ III.)

Oh, and do you need me to list the "bare minimum" and the "recommended" requirements for the game to work on any given computer?

Well, as you can see, most if not all of my cities practice Judaism. My "founder" and "follower" beliefs I chose when I founded Judaism in the Holy City of Thebes were something about population growth and....something else I forget.

The "wall" around much of my empire is the Great Wall of China, which gives some protection and causes enemy units to move in it much slower. Thebes is the capital. You can see I've got plenty of cannon, plenty of riflemen and so forth fortified all over the empire. Lots of mines and stuff, and you can see at the top the list of my "strategic" resources.

Unlike Civ IV, where your strategic resources remained permanent (as long as someone didn't "plunder" them) they have instead a number, and once they're gone, they're gone (unless of course you trade with another player...though I doubt once you get uranium there's going to be a leader on earth that will trade with you for that!!!!) The anvil is Iron (18), horses (5), coal (7), and aluminum (zero, unfortunately!) (This is at the center/top of the screen).

To the left of the anvil is the amoutn of "faith" I have generated. When you reach say, 400 faith, you can "buy" a missionary or inquisitor (1,000 I think gets you a "Great Prophet"). That's what the dove means. To the dove's left is a suitcase....tourism in your empire! This comes from great wonders and stuff like that. To the left of that, in purple, is how much culture I have generated, and when I reach that amount, I can adopt a social policy on the social policy chart. THey do different things like, for instance, if you pick the "honor" path, it helps your military (and there are various sub-selections to Honor, Liberty, etc.....I might want to show a screen shot of that!)

To the left of that, I'm in a golden age, and I have 21 happiness because of all the nifty luxury items I've got. Then there's gold, and the amount of science I'm making.

To the upper right, is a cultural track but I haven't totally understood that yet, and the button you press to engage in diplomacy with city-states and other empires. In the lower right is the map, or at least what I've discovered so far, and above that the circles with icons in them are messages (shit that's happening right now, etc....like so and so has declared war on so and so...your military unit has earned a promotion, etc...) The "13" in the Diplomacy button means there are 13 more turns until the World Congress meets. Now THAT can do some nifty stuff!

Two inches to the left of Thebes is a Mayan missionary. I kept warning him about them converting my cities all the time so I finally had to declare war on the bastard. The star above Thebes is a "great general".

One thing I notice right away is how you go with the standard assigned city names. I always played each game with unique naming themes. I love the personal touches the game allows.You mentioned city states, I didn't care for that new feature in Civ V. They seem kind of a stupid addition. But then I always tended to play full out war and total domination games, they just got in the way of that style of play.

For some reason, Redscape kept giving me an error message that the file was over 300k or something. Weird.

You can see there was a nuclear bomb set off previously in another Ottoman city; alas, it was a little close to the Egyptian border...oops! So that's two cities destroyed (actually, the population is halved and any units or improvements too close for comfort are destroyed totally). Workers will have to scrub the fallout before it's safe to build stuff there again.

I have to be honest: I have not fully explored things like "specialists" and fooling with city functions, so there's still a lot I have to learn about the game. But that is what makes it even more fun: more neat stuff to uncover!

I think I take a pretty huge diplomatic penalty for dropping nuclear bombs unprovoked.

SLOTerp: thanks for posting the pictures of mine. Maybe it is because I chose "upload attachment" instead of "IMG" at the top? I'll try it again, as I have another nifty nuclear bomb shot. This time, Istanbul. Also, wanted to show you what the leaders and stuff look like. They actually talk to you in their OWN language. On the message board, a designer (i think he was) posted that the Persian leader actually talks in REAL ancient Persian when you diplome with him.

BTW: above; the Egyptian Empire (moi) is yellow-colored. You will notice that the fallout from my attack on Bursa drifted over the border into Egypt. Add to that, I had a "caravan" on a trade route going through Bursa that was blown away by my incessant warmongering. Oops. Guess I got what I deserved.

It seems that at least several of us are vets of Civ V, and most of us (or all but one I think?) seem to like it/have liked it.

For those of you who do like it and maybe want a mutliplayer game some time, I'm up for it I even have a set of gaming headphones, though if any of you do not, you can still type in a window during multiplayer games....

Anyway, about what I like about it (as if I haven't already covered it above probably) I think the "hex" pattern for movement is an improvement, as is the inability to have great than one military unit in the same hex at the same time (or at least to come to rest in it...same with two "civilian" units). This prevents a "roaming stack of death" as I think someone once put it...a huge stack of [whatever units] that noboby can touch and thus gives an unfair advantage. Also, it limits the size of a civ's potential military in the field, which I think is more realistic and less unwieldy. While that may sound silly that only one military unit can be in the City at a time, (come to rest in it, rather), the cities actually have some self-defense measures. You click on a red button which appears above the City (it will give you a waring at the side "enemy unit in our territory!" at that time) and the city itself can launch...um...stuff at the enemy.

Which reminds me: "ranged" attacks. You could actually have some archers or rockets or whatever in a space behind your own infantry, who are right next to some enemy soldiers, and the rockets/whatever can fire OVER them just like artillery really does. Much better than having to be right next to it as in the four previous games. It's actually a pretty cool and practical idea (and fun, too...) Cuz I mean what's the point of a cannon or some crossbowmen if they cannot fire at a distance?? What do you all think of that, who have played it so far? (the features I just mentioned).

Por moi, I like Arabia/Caliph Harun al-Rashid. His/Arabia's special ability is called "trade caravans". It was the same in vanilla civ, but the details seem to have changed with BNW pack: since there are trade caravans you can build, they go twice as far playing him/Arabia. A Camel Archer replaces the Knight, and you build a "Bazaar" instead of a market. (Though I think the correct word should be "souque" in Arabic...) Not only that, oil resources produce double yield. Figures....maybe in addition to a World Congress, the Arabian player could be host of "OPEC Meeting"?

I also love Japan/whoever that guy is because of their ability called "Bushido" (which in reality was the ancient warrior code of Japan). The longswordsman is replaced by the Samurai (naturally) and the "Zero" replaces the regular fighter plane. (Which amuses me.) "Bushido" means that your units will continue to fight at full strength until totally destroyed. The damage taken in battle will not reduce their fighting strength as they take hits, which I think is cool.

Occasionally (patriotically?) I like Washington/America. "Manifest Destiny" allows the purchase of tiles at half price; and the regular musketman and Bomber are replaced by the Minuteman and the B-17 (not the B-29 mind you, so if you're playing Japan, don't worry...only Germany should be worried!). I suggested on a message boards soon after getting the game that, instead of getting a Minuteman, it should get the Minuteman ICBM (inter-continental ballistic missile) in replacement of the regular Atomic Bomb. Instead of being able to hit one target area, the Minuteman--as we hope it never will in real life--showers its target with ten MIRVs (multiple, independently-targetable re-entry vehicles). And the NASDAQ to replace the regular stock exchange: on one turn you're making +100 gold; on the next you're down by 150 (which

Whew, that's all. Feel free to skip some of the above....

Below I'll post a few more screen shots, and then only do it if someone asks after that

I doubled the allowable file size for attachments (up to 600). Your first pic was in the 400's although the 2nd was over 600. Keep 'em under 600 and see if you can attach them. You could use the image code if you wish to move them to some webspace but I think there are size limitations there too.

Damn, that didn't work either...just gave me the "600 max" error message.

Well, nevermind...I was just nuking Istanbul. I uploaded it to the Steam message boards with the caption: Istanbul was Constantinople..." but not anymore! Sorry, I fancy myself to be clever. If you don't mind, I can give that one to you, too, if you have the time (if you don't have the time it's no bother).

OK, it looks like the 2nd file attached well enough. Just not the one where Istanbul becomes a heap of radioactive ickyness. But it's cool that you can see the WWII bomber aircraft as it flys over, drops the thing, and gets the hell out of there (just like Paul Tibbets did).

The file I have now managed to attach is under 600. It shows the startup process, after you pick Bismark/Germany, and wait for it to start the game. Kind of amusing the special unit is a Panzer (in lieu of a regular tank). I think that's a carry-over from Civ IV however.

It's also nice that you can no longer name your leader. In Civ III you couldn't, Civ IV you could, and I think it took away from the historical/educational aspect of it. I guess.

Thank you for allowing that, buddy! I do not know how to directly post an image, the way you just mentioned, however.

I figured that a little "atomic eye candy" would keep people interested. It seems to be the weapon all civ players look forward to! If you have BNW, the World Congress (later called the United Nations) allows a member to propose a motion for vote to ban nuclear weapons. And of course you get a "diplomatic penalty" (e.g., the other players will hate or be afraid of you) for using one.

The atomic bomb cuts your population in half, destroys any units that were inside the city, and basically anything around it for a few hexes is totally blown away. Oh yeah, and do not forget the nuclear fallout. Later on you can invent the hydrogen bomb I do believe, by developing "fusion". That is far more devastating to a target than a "crude" fission bomb.

And here is the Japanese Leader, Shogun Oda Nobunaga, just as the picture starts to fade into the playing screen (you can kind of see it behind the rectangle with the description in it. It shows this for a bit, then you click on "start your journey" at the bottom...since I have a solid state hard drive, good video card and processor, etc., it takes about 15 to 20 second at absolute most from the time you click to start the game, to the time you can click on "begin your journey" at the bottom (and you can start doin stuff). In the meantime, assuming that we are all illiterate, it actually reads the text.

Before upgrading video cards, processor, motherboard, and a little extra memory (oh yeah and the hard drive) it took like, 2 minutes from the time you clicked start to the time you could begin. Never froze up, though!

They seem to have put some great accuracy in the game. However, I may point out (though I'm being overly-anal) that, when Arabia comes up, whatever it says at the bottom of the picture in Arabic, the letters are not connected....though that's hardly important.

But I would say my top several favorite empires to play (not in any order) Egypt, Japan, United States, Arabia, and once I was Ashurbanipal (forget what empire that way)...he's one of the expansions however, which are well worth getting as I said above. However, the bastards that controlled a majority of the votes in the World Congress/United Nations voted favorably on a total embargo of my economy (like economic sanctions in real life). I couldn't trade with anybody, and my gold count went down significantly, no longer having the ability to make caravan trade routes, or trade with anybody, even the city-states. Voting an embargo on a particular empire is tantamount to a written invitation for them to make their money in other ways: such as total, annihilating conquest!

Last edited by JimHackerMP on 15 Jan 2015, 4:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.